Urethral Blockage in Dogs & Cats / Urinary Blockage in Dogs & Cats

Urethral Blockage in Dogs & Cats / Urinary Blockage in Dogs & Cats

Herbal remedies to help address conditional needs of urinary urethral blockage in dogs and cats.

Urethral blockage in male dogs and cats is an emergency and your pet must be taken to a veterinarian immediately as it is a life threatening condition. Urinary blockage can lead to death within 3 days.

There are five common stages to urinary blockage in dogs and cats:

1. Change in urination habits

2. Severe, noticeable pain

3. Lethargy and nausea

4. Collapse

5. Death

When your pet experiences kidney and bladder problems, nutritional and phytochemical support must be given to help nourish and work to help rehabilitate the kidneys as well as the liver, endocrine, cardiovascular system and autonomic nervous systems.

If you observe your dog or cat straining to urinate but producing little or not urine, your animal may be suffering from a urinary tract obstruction. Obstruction can be related to inflammation creating urinary blockage or compression on the urethra, referred to a urethral blockage.

Urinary tract blockages primarily affect male cats and dogs and less commonly female cats and dogs, however, all can experience urinary blockage.

Because of the narrowing function and placement of the male urethra, male cats and dogs can easily develop an urethral obstruction, which is the tube that drains urine from the bladder out of the penis.

Obstructions are usually related to plugs caused by inflammation and inflammatory matter including mucus, protein, crystals and small stones (calculi) which form in the kidneys and are passed down into the bladder.

As the kidneys continue to produce urine, the bladder fills and begins to overstretch, which can cause severe pain. Your cat or dog may respond to pain by hiding, acting increasingly distressed and may vocalize pain. Your pet may cry out or react aggressively if you try to pick him/her up or touch the lower abdomen.

As the urine in the bladder puts pressure on the kidneys, they stop producing urine. Waste products build up in the blood, causing uremia (poisoning by urea, which is normally excreted in the urine). Early onset kidney failure leads to nausea and lack of desire to eat. If a cat or dog has not received medical attention at this point, death could be imminent without 24 hours.

Your pet will likely be severely dehydrated and can move into kidney failure as toxins in the blood lead to electrolyte imbalance. Electrolyte imbalance can also then affect the heart, leading to heart arrhythmia (abnormal heart beat) and organ failure in other body systems. If your animal's bladder ruptures, the urine in the abdominal cavity will push toxicity throughout all body systems and lead to immediate death.

Blockage most commonly affects cats and dogs from 1-10 years of age and the symptoms and signs can range dramatically from mild to severe. Like urinary tract inflammation and infections, blockage usually reoccurs within 6-12 months if the first bout is not life threatening. Again, any blockage should be considered an emergency and life threatening and veterinary care should be sought immediately.

Common signs of obstruction:

Straining to urinate

Pain when urinating (crying, yelping)

Hunching over while in litter pan

Frequent attempts to urinate but unable to void urine

Cloudy urine

Interrupted urination

Blood in urine or red tinged urine

Urinating outside of the litter box

Frequent licking of genitals

Appetite loss

Lethargy and depression

Vomiting or retching

If a complete obstruction occurs that means your pet cannot get urine out of its body and they will attempt to urinate but will be unable to produce urine. Complete obstruction can cause death within 3–6 days. A cat or dog with a urethral obstruction will have a large, painful bladder that is easily felt in the back half of the belly unless the bladder has ruptured.

Tinkle Tonic–(learn more) may help address male specific issues of the urinary tract for dogs and cats, including may help addressprostate disorders, may help address conditional needs related to urethral blockage, may help break down stones (bladder and kidney), crystals and calculi, may help acidify urine and help reduce cortisol in the blood, may help support electrolyte balance, may help nutritionally support urinary tract and prostate health and help reduce prostrate symptoms including Prostatitis and Benign Hyperplasia Prostate disease (BHP), may help promoteprostate gland health, a healthy bladder, urinary tract and bowel movements, may help soothe and reduce swollen and enlarged prostrate glands, may help promote strong and healthy urine flow, relieve pain, discomfort and difficulty when urinating; for incomplete urination, increased frequency of urination or reduction in the volume of urine, help relieve painful and strained defecation, help increase circulation and strengthen the immune system; help nutritionally address urinary incontinence and weakened bladders.

Break It Up Meal Topper – (learn more)has been proven to break up to 94% of bladder stones, crystals, calculi and gravel within 2 weeks of use; may help address all types of stones, including liver, kidney, bladder and gall stones, gravel, crystals, grains and calculi, including calcium oxalate, struvite, uric acid, cystine, calcium phosphate and silica stones; adaptogen content may help work preventatively against future stone formation and urinary tract infection by helping to identify and nutritionally address cellular imbalances related to stone and infection cycles; adaptogen content may help address urinary tract infections, including chronic UTI’s by nutritionally helping identify and correct cellular imbalances and infection cycles; may help reduce the amount of cortisol and calcium produced in the urine and helps normalize pH levels in the animal body, which may be beneficial for dogs and cats suffering from chronic and episodic upper urinary tract and bladder infections and kidney infections; may help normalize liver enzyme levels, helps reduce uric acid, helps acidify urine and helps increase urination and may provide relief from prostatitis.

Your veterinarian will examine your cat or dog's abdomen. Acute renal failure results from the increased pressure in the renal system and the inability to eliminate urea and other toxic waste build up. The toxin build up results in increased waste products and potassium in the bloodstream. Your veterinarian will likely draw blood to determine appropriate fluids and other treatments that may become necessary.

Additional blood analysis and imaging, including X-rays or ultrasound may be ordered to determine the cause of the obstruction or other underlying or contributing diseases or illnesses.

* The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These statements refer to holistic uses only and are not supported by medical research. The information contained in this plant file is intended for education, entertainment and information purposes only. This information is not intended to be used to diagnose, prescribe or replace proper medical care. The plant described herein is not intended to treat, cure, diagnose, mitigate or prevent any disease or condition.
* As indicated by holistic veterinarians.

All products are free of gluten, artificial flavors, colorants and preservatives. In accordance with our ‘Do No Harm’ policy, no animal testing is carried out whatsoever.